Bill removing Robert E. Lee from King holiday amendedLITTLE ROCK (AP) — A proposal to end Arkansas' practice of honoring Robert E. Lee on the same day as civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. is being changed to set aside another day to commemorate the Confederate general. Republican Rep. Nate Bell of Mena on Tuesday amended his proposal to remove Lee from the holiday honoring King's birthday. Arkansas is one of three states to jointly celebrate King and Lee on the third Monday in January. Th...

House panel advances governor's tax cut planLITTLE ROCK (AP) — A House panel has advanced Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson's middle class tax cut package after restoring a portion of a capital gains tax break it would have repealed. The House Revenue and Taxation Committee on Tuesday endorsed Hutchinson's proposal to cut taxes by 1 percent for those making between $21,000 and $75,000 a year. The Senate approved the measure last week and it now heads to the full House. The panel backed the m...

Panel dismisses ethics complaint against AGLITTLE ROCK (AP) — The Arkansas Ethics Commission dismissed a complaint against Attorney General Leslie Rutledge on Friday that accused her of violating state law by appearing in a campaign ad produced and paid for by an outside group. The panel voted 4-0 to dismiss the complaint Little Rock lawyer and blogger Matt Campbell had filed last year against Rutledge over her appearance in a 30-second television spot by the Republican Attorneys Gener...

AG asks for new arguments in marriage caseLITTLE ROCK (AP) — Attorney General Leslie Rutledge asked Arkansas' highest court on Friday to hold new oral arguments in the lawsuit over the state's gay marriage ban because two new justices weren't at a hearing on the case last year. Rutledge, a Republican who was sworn in last week, noted that two new justices have joined the state Supreme Court since it heard oral arguments in November. Justices have yet to rule in the state's appeal of a...

Members of Arkansas congressional delegation seek rice salesLITTLE ROCK (AP) — Members of Arkansas' congressional delegation have joined colleagues from other states in urging Secretary of State John Kerry to encourage Iraq to purchase more American-produced rice. Arkansas Sens. John Boozman and Tom Cotton and Arkansas Reps. Rick Crawford and Bruce Westerman have signed a letter that seeks diplomatic assistance to improve trade relations with the Iraqi Grain Board. In recent years, the board has bought...

Questions still surround future of Arkansas Medicaid planLITTLE ROCK (AP) — While Gov. Asa Hutchinson has made it clear he wants to keep Arkansas' compromise Medicaid expansion in place through the end of next year, what's less certain is what happens after that for the thousands receiving health coverage through the program. Hutchinson's proposal to reauthorize the "private option" and create a task force to look at health care reforms leaves plenty of unanswered questions about the future of a pro...

Brown appointed Atkins city clerk ATKINS — The City Council met in special session Thursday and voted 5-0 to replace City Clerk Barbara Gardner, who resigned Wednesday. Michelle Brown was appointed by the council to fill out Gardner’s two-year term. Barrett said a special election wasn’t necessary, according to the Arkansas Municipal League, because Gardner was sworn in and served since Jan. 1.

$71 million is investment in communityMembers of City Corp. and the Russellville City Council met Tuesday at City Hall to discuss a proposed $71 million needed to fund capital improvement projects over the next six years. City Corp. General Manager Steve Mallett and Dan Jackson of economist.com — a firm that studies utilities and comes up with water and sewer rate proposals to pay for capital improvements — showed how a rate increase of nearly $5 per month per average user would f...

Westerman appointed to House Natural Resources SubcommitteesWASHINGTON — Congressman Bruce Westerman (R-Hot Springs) issued the following statement on his appointment to the Public Lands and Environmental Regulations Subcommittee and the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee under the House Committee on Natural Resources: “I want to thank Chairman Bishop for the privilege to serve on these two important subcommittees. With my new district office located within Hot Springs National Park — America’s ...

Obama in State of the Union: Tax wealthy, help middle classWASHINGTON (AP) — Refusing to bend to the new Republican Congress, President Barack Obama unveiled Tuesday night an ambitious State of the Union agenda steeped in Democratic priorities, including tax increases on the wealthy, education and child care help for the middle class and a torrent of veto threats for the GOP's own plans. In a shift from tradition, Obama's address to a joint session of Congress was less a laundry list of new proposals ...

City Corp. seeks $71 million over 6 yearsThe Russellville City Council and City Corp. board of directors heard general manager Steve Mallett spell out a proposal that will generate $71 million over the next six years for water and sewer capital improvements. The bulk of the money will come from bond issuances, but the water utility also recommended an increase in water and sewer rates. What does this mean to the average City Corp. customer? Nearly an additional $5 per month, or $60 a...

Broyles family wants Arkansas law to keep publicity rightsLITTLE ROCK (AP) — The family of legendary former Razorbacks coach Frank Broyles wants a new state law to create publicity rights allowing public figures more control over how their likenesses are used. Two northwest Arkansas lawmakers introduced the bill Tuesday. The 90-year-old Broyles left the University of Arkansas' Razorback Foundation last year. A bill sponsor, Democratic Rep. Greg Leding of Fayetteville, said Tuesday that concerns arose...

Lawmakers get glimpse at governor's budget planLITTLE ROCK (AP) — Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Tuesday his budget is relying on revenue growth, surplus funds and cuts to state agencies to pay for his campaign promise to cut taxes for the middle class by $102 million a year. The Republican governor began briefing lawmakers on highlights of his budget, but delayed until next week his plan to unveil the proposal. He said he wants to address the future of the state's compromise Medicaid e...

Scholarship winners could defer for 2 years under billLITTLE ROCK (AP) — College students would be able to defer their state scholarships for up to two years for community service or family emergency under a bill passed by the Arkansas House. The bill approved Tuesday allows the Arkansas Department of Higher Education to approve holds on Governor's Scholars and Governor's Distinguished Scholarships. The department can hold a student's scholarship for military service, family or medical emergency ...

Hutchinson calls King a leader who inspired tough choicesBENTON (AP) — Calling Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. a person who "caused people to make a choice," Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Monday that the best leaders make tough decisions. "Great leaders inspire people to act, to make a choice," Hutchinson said. "The greatest leaders that we have are not always the most popular leaders." Hutchinson faces several key moments in his second week as Arkansas governor. He will give a speech on healthcare T...

Griffin pushing to give up some power as state's No. 2LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Arkansas Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin says he wants to use the state's No. 2 post to promote the agenda of fellow Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson, and is urging lawmakers to scale back some of his office's powers. Sworn in last week, Griffin said he's working with lawmakers on a proposed constitutional amendment to put before voters next year that would allow the governor to remain in charge when he's out of the state. He calls the c...

Municipal League wraps up 2015 winter conferenceLITTLE ROCK (AP) — The Arkansas Municipal League has wrapped up its 2015 winter conference. More than 1,200 participants, including many newly elected municipal officials from across the state, attended the event in Little Rock that concluded Friday. Highlights include the first appearance before the municipal group by newly inaugurated Gov. Asa Hutchinson. Hutchinson asked municipal leaders to support legislation he will propose to create a b...

Power shift to change commissionThe Pope County Election Commission is composed of three commissioners — two from the majority party and one from the minority party — elected to represent their party. Because of the shift in power during November's general election, the commission will switch from having one Republican representative to two and from two Democratic representatives to one. Chad Easley, then-interim chair of the Pope County Democratic Committee (PCDC), said he ...

Overbey to chair committeeLITTLE ROCK — Representative Betty Overbey of Lamar was appointed to chair the Arkansas House of Representatives Committee for City, County and Local Affairs, Speaker of the House Jeremy Gillam announced earlier this week. The committee reviews all matters regarding city and municipal affairs, county affairs, local improvement districts and inter-local government. “I'm honored to be asked to chair a committee where so many decisions are made t...

Bill would restrict drones on private landLITTLE ROCK (AP) — Using a drone to fly above private property and take pictures without permission would be a crime under a bill filed in the Arkansas Legislature. Republican Rep. Justin Harris' proposal filed Thursday would make it a misdemeanor for a drone operator to have or distribute an unauthorized image. His bill exempts law enforcement and photos taken on public property. Various states and the Federal Aviation Administration have tri...